Former Democratic National Committee chairman and current White House senior adviser Tom Perez has played a significant role in settling thousands of migrants at Brooklyn’s Floyd Bennett Field, according to House Republicans investigating the Biden administration’s handling of the border crisis. House Natural Resources Committee chairman Bruce Westerman expressed concern over the decision to use national park land for a migrant encampment and highlighted Perez’s involvement in coordinating the federal response to the migrant crisis in New York City for nearly a year.
In a letter obtained by The Post, Westerman and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations chairman Paul Gosar, along with seven New York Republicans, raised questions about the Biden administration’s decision to lease National Park Service (NPS) land for the migrant encampment at Floyd Bennett Field. They have requested records related to the encampment and the legality of housing migrants on federal land from Perez by May 3.
Hochul admitted that Empire State officials’ lobbying efforts had led to a change in federal rules allowing for the construction of the encampment at Floyd Bennett Field. The Republicans pointed out that the migrant crisis in New York City has continued since then, leading to safety concerns for park employees, surrounding communities, and migrants. Reports of increased crime, including panhandling scams, shoplifting, assault, and domestic violence, have been linked to the encampment.
The letter also mentioned that City Hall hired a private security firm to oversee the encampment, which has hindered the ability of NYPD officers to respond to incidents. The Republicans highlighted concerns about the safety risks associated with the encampment and the impact it has had on the surrounding community. They warned of the potential costs to New York City’s budget, estimating that the city is spending $387 per migrant household per day to feed and shelter them, which could amount to as much as $10 billion through the next fiscal year.
Perez met with Gov. Kathy Hochul and NYC Mayor Eric Adams before the decision was made to lease the NPS land for the encampment. Representatives including House GOP Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik, Staten Island Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, and various other New York lawmakers have signed onto the letter requesting information related to the Floyd Bennett Field encampment. The Republicans have expressed concerns about the management of public lands and the implications of using national park land for housing migrants.
In addition to Perez’s involvement in the coordination of the federal response to the migrant crisis in New York City, he was also invited to watch a Buffalo Bills AFC playoff game by the Hochul administration. The ongoing communications between Perez and the mayor’s office regarding migrants seeking asylum in the city have also been noted. The Republicans have raised questions about the decision-making process that led to the establishment of the encampment and its impact on the local community, calling for greater transparency and accountability from the Biden administration.
